Every week, St John Ambulance’s James Atkin brings you his simple, but life saving, first aid tips – this week: choking.

Choking is caused by a foreign object stuck at the back of the throat that is blocking the throat or causing muscular spasm. Young children are especially prone to choking and may choke on food or small objects they put into their mouth.

If a blockage is mild, a casualty should be able to clear it themselves by coughing. However, if it is severe they will be unable to speak, cough, or breathe, and will eventually lose consciousness.

If you suspect a child or adult is choking, ask them ‘Are you choking?’ and if they are breathing, encourage them to cough to remove the obstruction. If they can’t speak, cough or breathe, bend them forward and give up to five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

Don’t do a finger sweep of the mouth.

This can push any obstruction further down.

If the airway is still blocked, stand behind the casualty and put both arms around them. Put one fist between the navel and the bottom of the breastbone, grasp your fist with your other hand, and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times. Recheck the mouth.

Repeat the back slaps and abdominal thrusts until the obstruction clears. If after three cycles, it has still not cleared, call 999/112 for emergency help and continue back slaps and abdominal thrusts until help arrives. If the casualty loses consciousness, open the airway and check their breathing.

If it is a baby (under 1 year) who is choking, you will need to use a slightly different technique.

Lay the baby face down on your forearm supporting the body and chin and give up to five back blows, as before, with the heel of your hand. Check the mouth for any obstruction and remove.

If the obstruction hasn’t cleared, turn the baby on their back and place two fingers on the centre of the baby’s chest and push inwards and upwards sharply against the breastbone. Repeat up to five times.

As before, repeat the sequence up to three cycles and if the obstruction hasn’t cleared call for an ambulance and continue until help arrives.

Want to know more? Find out about first aid courses near you by calling 0121 237 3879, emailing west-mids-training@sja.org.uk or visiting our website www.sja.org.uk. If you are interested in volunteering, you’ll find the latest vacancies on our website or by calling our regional headquarters on 0121 236 6660. They can also advise on your nearest Badger and Cadet units.